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No.71 Squadron was the first 'Eagle' Squadron, manned by American volunteers in the year before the American entry into the Second World War. The squadron was formed on 19 September 1940, at first without aircraft, and then with the obsolete Brewster Buffalo. The Hawker Hurricane arrived in November, and defensive patrols began in the following February. Later in the year the squadron took part in offensive sweeps over northern France.
The squadron's first victories came on 2 July 1941 during an offensive sweep near Lille, when three Bf 109s were claimed, one by Bill Dunn, who on 27 August 1941 became the first American fighter ace of the Second World War. By that point the squadron had converted to the Spitfire, and it was still flying the Supermarine fighter when on 29 September No.71 Squadron RAF became the 334th Fighter Squadron, USAAF, part of the 4th Fighter Group.
Aircraft
October-November 1940: Brewster Buffalo I
November 1940-May 1941: Hawker Hurricane I
April-August 1941: Hawker Hurricane IIB
August-September 1941: Supermarine Spitfire IIA
September 1941-September 1942: Supermarine Spitfire VB
Location
September-November 1940: Church Fenton
November 1940-April 1941: Kirton-in-Lindsey
April-June 1941: Martlesham Heath
June-December 1941: North Weald
December 1941-May 1942: Martlesham Heath
May-June 1942: Debden
June-July 1942: Gravesend
July-August 1942: Debden
August-September 1942: Gravesend
Squadron Codes: XR
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How to cite this article: Rickard, J (26 June 2009), No. 71 Squadron (RAF): Second World War, http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/71_wwII.html